"F" the Recession

Forget about the recession that is going on our dear country, we are dealing with regression in our household.

People told me, repeatedly, to be careful with Roo once Turtle came home because there was a chance that she could regress with certain things.

Like most mothers, I insisted my child would be fine.

And like most mothers, I was wrong.

Roo is backsliding... and fast.

It's nothing drastic or huge. She is still potty trained, she sleeps through the night, she eats her veggies, etc.

The problem is that she's acting... how do I say this... like a child.

Meaning she's easy to upset.

She cries if I tell her no. She ignores half of everything I say. She pouts.

Yes, I know this is how most children act, but Roo was different. She behaved. She listened.

She was a star child!

Now as she whimpers and sniffles besides me, I wonder what happened.

And yes, I know that she has a new sister in her life and I know that maybe I should cave in and give her what she wants and life will be easy again.

But the hard ass in me says that she can live without her taggie (her "lovie") for ten minutes while she plays.

The part of me that wants to cave is afraid that if I give her what she wants that I'll just start a vicious cycle that will never end.

Then once Turtle gets older, she'll pick up on Roo's spectacular behavior and model herself after her sister and then my hands will be full of two brats that can't behave.

I can't be that Mom.

I won't be that Mom.

For now, I'm just going to take huge, deep breaths and remind myself that this has to be a phase and that if I'm firm, yet soft, I can get her through this.

And never have to deal with it again... that is, until Turtle goes over to the dark side.